Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 23 of 61

20 • June 2018 www.concreteproducts.com
GV (formerly Google Ventures)
and Home Depot recently led a
$25 million funding round for
San Francisco-based Hover, whose
technology generates interactive
3D models of any property using
smartphone camera-derived
image files.
The platform, Hover officials
contend, is a) revolutionizing
how home improvement projects
are estimated and sold; b) saving
exterior contractors time and
money on every project, and help-
ing them close more business; c)
affording homeowners simple inter-
face and in-depth design features
so they can comprehensively visu-
alize their exterior projects; and, d)
providing insurance industry users
up-to-date property measurements
to reduce claim adjusting costs.
"Americans spent well over
$300 billion on home remodeling
last year, yet when it comes to the
most important and fundamen-
tal part of the process—getting
estimates to make an informed
decision—homeowners are still
subjected to the same process their
grandparents went through: rely-
ing on measuring tape, handshakes
[and] eye-balled estimations," says
Hover founder and CEO A.J. Altman.
"We're excited to continue to work
alongside these amazing strategic
Google, Home Depot back building enclosure visualization developers
Hover app users are directed to take at least eight images of every angle of a home. The software
automatically uploads files from the smartphone camera, then transforms images into a fully mea-
sured, customizable and interactive 3D model. App design features enable users to change roof,
siding, windows and other exterior features.
NEWS SCOPE
TECHNOLOGY
partners to bring more transparency and efficiency
to this industry."
"The power of Hover's technology is in the great
experience it creates for our customers when making
a major investment in their home," notes Home Depot
Home Services Senior Vice President Kelly Barrett.
"Hover gives them confidence in their decision-mak-
ing because they can visualize the finished project at
the same time we give them an estimate."
"Many people are familiar with computer
vision and deep learning only as abstract technical
concepts," adds GV General Partner Tyson Clark. "Hov-
er's platform is taking this technology and applying it
in a practical, useful way to people's lives."
Hover's primary plans for the funding are in
research and development, namely in continuing
to expand the company's capabilities in computer
vision and deep learning technology. They will also
devote funds to improving and extending the prod-
uct in core and adjacent markets while continuing
to build out the sales and marketing arms of the
business.